What is a Housing Co-operative?

What is cooperative housing?

A housing co-op is a group of people who work together to enjoy long-term, affordable housing. It isn't owned by a landlord or a company — it's owned and controlled by its members.

• Co-ops are owned by their members.

• Co-ops are accountable to their members.

• Co-ops are connected to their community.

Being a co-op member means having control over your housing — and the responsibility to help make it a well-managed, pleasant place to live. If you join, you can expect to:

• buy shares in the co-op;

• pay a monthly housing charge;

• attend members' meetings;

• participate in running the co-op;

• join a committee or the board;

• help with maintenance; and

• take part in social events.

Participation is required at Greenway

The co-op lifestyle is all about participation. Members organize into committees and work together to manage and maintain the co-op. It's a group effort and an important commitment — the minimum contribution by each household is currently two hours per month, and at least one member from each household is expected to attend all general meetings, including the AGM.

Each committee looks after specific tasks — maintenance, landscaping, finances, administration. We do as much ourselves as we can, both to save money and for the enjoyment of it; where a task needs a professional, we hire one.

One thing you don't usually find in typical rental or strata housing is this kind of community. By working together, members get to know one another, and many become good friends.

Learn more

For more on housing co-ops, visit the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC or the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada.